Japan Wine Challenge
Updated: Mar 17, 2021
Did you know that Japan has been hosting Asia's oldest and most prestigious wine competition?
It is called the 'Japan Wine Challenge'.

Japan Wine Challenge has entered its 23rd year in 2020.
Apart from the four main medal awards of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, there are other awards like 'Best Value Wines Award' that's given to wines with the highest value under each of the designated price buckets, or 'Riedel Japan Wine Challenge Award for Best Wine Importer', which are awards given to importers whose wines entered have achieved the highest overall score.
Now let's look at the most recent challenge that took place in 2020 to get a better picture of this wine competition.
Japan Wine Challenge 2020
Japan Wine Challenge 2020 took place from 14 September to 17 September 2020 at Tokyo American Club. There were 1,000+ wine entries from 30 different countries, which were judged by a panel of leading wine professionals from Japan and international.
Here were the results:
25 platinum medals awarded
51 gold medals awarded
200 silver medals awarded
444 bronze medals awarded
Among the wines that were awarded either the platinum medal or gold medal, 12 bottles of wines were further chosen as the trophy award winners. For examples, Trophy for Best Organic Wine, Trophy for Best Dessert Wine, Trophy for Best New World White Wine, Trophy for Best Old World White Wine etc.
How did Japanese Wine do at this international competition, you may ask. Were there any that were awarded gold or even platinum medals?
Yes, in fact, one bottle of Japanese Wine even won one of the twelve trophies!
Japanese Wine Awardees
Here are some highlights of Japanese Wine that received either the gold medal, platinum medal, or trophy award at Japan Wine Challenge 2020.
Trophy (Best Rose Wine)
Foret Rose Wine from Iwate Kuzumaki Wine
Platinum Medals
Hayachine Kagura Red from Eden Wein
Gold Medals
Sainte Neige Kaminoyama Nakajima Vineyard Merlot 2018 from Sainte Neige
Orange Wine 2019 from Domaine Raison
Kikyogahara Merlot 2017 from Hayashi Winery
Foret Rose Wine from Iwate Kuzumaki Wine
Pony Blanc 2019 from Comazono Vineyard
L'orient Koshu Vigne De Nakagawa from Shirayuri Winery
Sparkling Chardonnay Pris de Mousse from Takahata Winery
Campbell Early Rose 2019 from Tsuno Wine
Onoshita Estate Chardonnay 2018 from Tsuno Wine